I am not going to argue on the “Heya Jaina, go get a partner – it’s good for you” part. I didn’t pay attention to the romance budding part when reading the novel and will most definitely pretend it did not exist.

However, I have to speak up regarding Thrall’s action/words about not interfering with Horde politics (being a noble son of the Horde myself =D ).

Post-WotLK, Garrosh returned from Northrend to the adulation of an entire generation of Horde due to the Horde’s successful campaign against the Scourge. It was exactly this reason that made Thrall considered appointing Garrosh as the acting Warchief in his stead when he had to go to Nagrand to learn deeper about shamanism. And during his tenure as acting Warchief, Garrosh had done things that has increased his popularity among the Horde (not all of them, but a majority nonetheless).

It’s for that reason Thrall can’t (won’t?) interfere – to suddenly walk into Orgrimmar and boot Garrosh would piss the people who loved Garrosh. Discontent will bubble up. Given that Thrall has already considered himself part of the Earthen Ring, whoever is chosen to replace Garrosh will soon find himself/herself having to deal with either hostiliy or insubornation (sp?) or negativity from the pro-Garrosh side. Depending on how the matter is handled, it may lead to a Horde civil war which will be the last thing the Horde needs (like the Alliance, they’re also still recovering from losses in WotLK and Cata).

TL;DR :- Garrosh is a popular Warchief atm. If Thrall boots him, it may lead to bad, bad things.

Thrall is a neutered weak little pansy who is too scared to walk into the city he founded. If anything he should be able to walk into ANY CITY IN AZEROTH and be respected after what happened in Cataclysm. And you’re right, he gives not a shit that his horde is behaving dishonorably?

Varian is suddenly reasonable, calm and collected.

Garrosh has eschewed honor completely and there is that Blackrock Orc around that everyone in Org is accepting and okay with.

WTF? How does this happen?

…what she was given was… weak.

The other part I have an issue with is in The Shattering, the short story on the website, and in Horde quest line in Stonetalon, they worked so hard to make Garrosh relatable, and to show his growth as a leader. Then suddenly he is a bloodthirsty warmonger who won’t listen to advisors he would have listened to before. It’s like all the lessons those previous stories showed him learning are thrown out the window for convenience.

I’m not too far into the book either, so we’ll see how things develop.

Thanks for making me laugh this morning, Bear – just what my inner pirate needed!